What a solar buy-back rate actually means
Solar panels power the home first. When they produce more electricity than the home is using, the surplus flows through an import-export meter into the local network. The electricity retailer credits that exported energy at its buy-back rate, usually expressed in cents per kilowatt-hour.
New Zealand does not have one universal feed-in tariff. Retailers offer different rates and conditions, and plans can vary by location. Powerswitch maintains an independent comparison page and notes that listed rates exclude GST, so check how any retailer presents its own figure before comparing it with another. [1]
Put every rate on the same basis, then check the plan conditions and whether it is available on your local network.
The highest buy-back rate can still produce a higher bill
A retailer can offer an attractive export rate while charging more for power imported during winter evenings, overnight or on a daily basis. That can leave the household worse off even though every exported unit earns more. Add the import charges and daily charges, then subtract the export credits. The result is the number worth comparing.
| Plan detail | Why it matters | What to record |
|---|---|---|
| Import price | Most homes still buy power after dark and in poor weather. | Flat, peak and off-peak cents per kWh |
| Buy-back price | This sets the credit for each exported unit. | Peak, off-peak and standard rates |
| Daily charge | It applies even when solar covers most daytime use. | Dollars per day, including GST |
| Time windows | A premium rate is useful only when the system can export during that window. | Days, hours, seasons and holidays |
| Eligibility | Some plans have region, meter, system-size or battery conditions. | Every condition in writing |
| GST | Retailer tables do not always present rates on the same basis. | Inclusive or exclusive |
Do not ask, “Who pays the most for solar?” Ask, “Which plan gives this home the lowest total annual bill?”
What changed for solar exports in 2026
The Electricity Authority confirmed that large retailers must offer time-of-use import plans and time-varying buy-back plans. These became available from July 2026. Electricity supplied during a busy period can be worth more than electricity supplied when the network already has plenty. [2]
Typical national peak periods are weekday mornings and evenings, although the exact hours and prices belong to each plan. A premium headline price may therefore apply for only a few hours, on certain days or during a particular season. Read the timetable rather than assuming every exported unit earns the headline rate.
Panel-only systems usually export most strongly around the middle of the day.
Solar output is falling just as cooking and heating demand increase.
A suitable battery can hold daytime generation for evening use or export.
Panels only and panels with a battery earn differently
A panel-only system generally exports when the sun is strongest. A battery can charge during the day, supply the home after sunset and, where the system and plan allow it, export during a higher-value period. That does not automatically make the battery profitable. Its purchase price, usable capacity, efficiency, warranty and control settings still have to stack up.
EECA suggests that a flat-rate plan can suit a solar home without a battery, while time-of-use pricing can suit a battery household that can avoid expensive imports or choose when to export. EECA also stresses that self-consuming solar usually saves more per unit than selling it, because buy-back rates are lower than retail import prices. [3]
If storage is part of the decision, read our Canterbury solar battery guide and ask for solar-only and solar-plus-battery figures separately.
Two different plans can land on the same result
Imagine a home that imports 6,000 kWh and exports 3,000 kWh a year. The example below is deliberately simplified and does not represent a current retailer offer. It shows why a higher buy-back rate can lose once import costs are included.
| Plan A | Plan B | |
|---|---|---|
| Import price used | 32c/kWh | 36c/kWh |
| Buy-back price used | 12c/kWh | 20c/kWh |
| Import cost | $1,920 | $2,160 |
| Export credit | −$360 | −$600 |
| Net energy amount | $1,560 | $1,560 |
In this example the plans tie before daily charges, time periods and discounts. A small change in import use, export timing or the daily charge would decide the result. That is why a retailer name or one advertised number cannot answer the question for every home.
Your Canterbury network and your retailer do different jobs
The retailer sends the power bill and sets the retail buy-back plan. The local lines company operates the network and manages the connection of distributed generation. Canterbury properties may sit on the Orion, MainPower or EA Networks systems, depending on their location. The installer should identify the correct network and include its connection process in the quote.
Ask the retailer
- What import and export prices apply to my address?
- Are the prices inclusive or exclusive of GST?
- What are the exact peak and off-peak periods?
- Does the plan require a battery, compatible meter or app?
Ask the installer
- Which network serves this property?
- What export limit should the design assume?
- Who completes the connection application?
- Are metering and network charges included?
Export limits can change the value of a large system
The Electricity Authority's 2026 rules introduced a 10 kW default export limit for straightforward small-scale residential generation. A lines company can use a lower limit where network safety or reliability requires it, and flexible limits may also be used. The limit is about what can flow into the network at one moment; it is not necessarily the same as panel capacity. [4]
For a quote with a large array, large inverter or export-focused battery, ask the installer to show how the model treats clipping, household use, battery charging and the export cap. A larger system can still make sense, but the payback should not assume every available kilowatt can always be sold.
Use this checklist before changing power plans
Collect the numbers first
- Download at least 12 months of electricity use if available.
- Use half-hourly data so morning, daytime and evening demand are visible.
- Record annual imports, exports and direct solar use.
- Put every price on the same GST basis.
- Add the daily charge for all 365 days.
- Apply peak prices only to electricity used or exported in the matching window.
- Check discounts, contract periods, exit fees and bundled services.
- Confirm the final rates directly with the retailer.
Powerswitch publishes a solar buy-back comparison, while the Electricity Authority's Billy service can help households compare power plans. Use those services as a current starting point, then verify the plan for your address and meter. [1] [5]
A useful solar quote should show imports, self-use and exports
The assumptions behind a savings forecast should be visible. Ask the installer to state expected annual generation, the share used directly in the home, the share exported, the import and buy-back rates used, and whether prices are assumed to rise. If a battery is included, the model should also state usable capacity, cycling strategy and losses.
Compare that forecast with the Canterbury solar cost guide. If the quote relies on an unusually high export rate for much of its return, test the same system using a more conservative rate and your actual electricity plan.
Choose a system that works under sensible assumptions rather than one that needs today's best promotional rate to look viable.
Canterbury solar buy-back questions
What is a solar buy-back rate?
It is the amount an electricity retailer credits for each kilowatt-hour of surplus solar electricity exported from your home to the network.
Which power company has the best solar buy-back rate?
There is no single best retailer for every household. Rates and conditions change, and the plan with the largest export number may also have higher import prices or daily charges. Compare the total estimated bill using your own electricity pattern.
Do I need a battery to earn peak export rates?
Not necessarily, but panel-only systems tend to export around midday. A battery can move some generation into morning or evening periods, subject to its controls, the plan conditions and the network connection.
Can solar eliminate my power bill?
Usually not completely. Most grid-connected homes still pay a daily charge and import electricity when generation is low. Solar savings depend on system size, direct use, exports, weather and the power plan.
How often should I compare plans?
Check after the first year of solar data and whenever your retailer changes prices, your household adds an EV or battery, or your power-use pattern changes. Current rates should always be confirmed with the retailer.
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- Powerswitch: Solar buy-back rates
- Electricity Authority: New ways to empower electricity consumers
- EECA: Make the most of your home solar system
- Electricity Authority: New rules encourage more solar to networks
- Billy: Independent electricity plan comparison
Retail prices and plan conditions change. This guide explains how to compare them and does not recommend a particular retailer or financial product.